Bed sheet assembly

ABSTRACT

Present embodiments relate to abed sheet assembly ( 20 ). More particularly, but without limitation, present embodiments relate to bed sheet assemblies which connect to a mattress ( 12 ) or mattress cover ( 40 ) and which defines a fitted sheet ( 22 ) and a second sheet ( 24 ) connected to the fitted sheet.

CLAIM TO PRIORITY

This PCT patent application claims priority to and benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/944,642, filed Dec. 6, 2019and titled “Bed Sheet Assembly”, all of which is incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention

Present embodiments relate to a bed sheet assembly, More particularly,but without limitation, present embodiments relate to bed sheetassemblies which connect to a mattress or mattress cover and whichdefines a fitted sheet and a second sheet connected to the fitted sheet.

2. Description of the Related Art

In many bedding sets, there is a tightly fitting or fitted sheet andthere is at least one separate flat sheet. One frustration is that attimes, one or more corners may conic loose from the mattress. This iseven more likely when the fitted sheet is used with an adjustable base.

Further, each time a bed is stripped or made, these sheets must be dealtwith independently. This causes loss of time resource at residences, butit multiplies extensively at hotels and resorts.

It would be desirable to provide a bed sheet assembly that can easily bestripped or applied to a bed in a single action.

The information included in this Background section of thespecification, including any references cited herein and any descriptionor discussion thereof, is included for technical reference purposes onlyand is not to be regarded subject matter by which the scope of theinvention is to be bound.

SUMMARY

Present embodiments provide a sheet assembly which connects to amattress or a mattress cover, either of which may have a fastener. Thesheet assembly cover the upper portion of the mattress by connection tothe fastener, and further provides a second attached sheet which may beconnected along one edge, for example at a foot end so that the secondsheet lays on top the fitted sheet on the mattress.

According to some embodiments, a bed sheet assembly may comprise a firstlower fitted sheet, having four sides, an upper surface and a lowersurface, wherein two of the four sides are longer sides and two of thefour sides are shorter sides. The first lower fitted sheet may have aplurality of zipper teeth, wherein the plurality of zipper teeth havinga teeth count to be capable of being connected to a second plurality ofzipper teeth extending about a mattress. The first lower fitted sheetmay be of a woven, low gram weight fabric. At least one second sheet maybe connected to the first lower fitted sheet. The at least one secondsheet may have four sides and a second upper surface and a second lowersurface. The at least one second sheet may be connected along one of thefour sides to a corresponding side of the first lower fitted sheet.

According to some embodiments, the following optional features andembodiments may be used with the bed sheet assembly alone, or incombination with other optional embodiments. The bed sheet assembly mayfurther comprise a mattress protector. The mattress protector may bedisposed under the first lower fitted sheet. The plurality of zipperteeth of the first lower fitted sheet and the second plurality of zipperteeth of the mattress may extend about the mattress at a constantelevation. Alternatively, the plurality of zipper teeth of the firstlower fitted sheet and the second plurality of zipper teeth of themattress may extending about the mattress at a varying elevation. Theplurality of zipper teeth of the first lower fitted sheet may bedisposed at a lower elevation along the long sides of the first lowerfitted sheet. The plurality of zipper teeth of the first lower fittedsheet maybe disposed at a higher elevation along the shorter sides ofthe first lower fitted sheet. The plurality of zipper teeth of the firstlower fitted sheet disposed at a higher elevation along long sides ofthe first lower fitted sheet. The plurality of zipper teeth of the firstlower fitted sheet disposed at a lower elevation along the shorter sidesof the first lower fitted sheet. The mattress protector formed oflightweight polyurethane backed polyester. The bed sheet assemblywherein at least one seam connects the first lower fitted sheet and theat least one second sheet. The bed sheet assembly wherein multiple seamsjoins the first lower fitted sheet and the at least one second sheet,with at least one gap between the multiple seams. The bed sheet assemblywherein the at least one seam is at a foot end of the bed sheetassembly. The bed sheet assembly wherein the plurality of zipper teethof the first lower fitted sheet are divided into a plurality ofsegments. The plurality of segments may have a corresponding number ofthe plurality of zipper teeth and linear distance. The mattress mayfurther comprise a corresponding plurality of segments, number of thesecond plurality of zipper teeth and linear distance. The secondplurality of zipper teeth may be disposed on either the mattress or amattress cover.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. All of theabove outlined features are to be understood as exemplary only and manymore features and objectives of the various embodiments may be gleanedfrom the disclosure herein. Therefore, no limiting interpretation ofthis summary is to be understood without further reading of the entirespecification, claims and drawings, included herewith. A more extensivepresentation of features, details, utilities, and advantages of thepresent invention is provided in the following written description ofvarious embodiments of the invention, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and defined in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the embodiments may be better understood, embodiments of abed sheet assembly will now be described by way of examples. Theseembodiments are not to limit the scope of the claims as otherembodiments of an orthopedic brace will become apparent to one havingordinary skill in the art upon reading the instant description.Non-limiting examples of the present embodiments are shown in figureswherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bed sheet assembly positioned on amattress;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a bed sheet assembly;

FIG. 3 is an alternate embodiment including both the bed sheet assemblyand a mattress cover; and,

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a layout of a plurality of zipper segmentsdefining the perimeter path about the mattress and zip-in sheetassembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that the bed sheet assembly is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement ofcomponents set forth in the following description or illustrated in thedrawings. The described embodiments are capable of other embodiments andof being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it isto be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is forthe purpose of description and should not be regarded. as limiting. Theuse of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereofherein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalentsthereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms“connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein areused broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings,and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” andvariations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanicalconnections or couplings.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “someembodiments” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature,structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in some embodiments” or“in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may.Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics maybe combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or moreembodiments.

Referring now to the various FIGS. 1-4 , a bed sheet assembly isprovided which comprises a fitted sheet that attaches to a mattress inplace of, or in addition to, a typical bed cover. The fitted sheet hasan attached flat sheet. The fitted sheet is formed with a matchingzipper for a mattress such that any bed sheet assembly with theappropriate attachment may be connected to any mattress with thematching half zipper. It should be clear to one skilled in the art thatthe instant embodiments do not relate to mattresses or cushions which donot utilize a fastener arrangement for covering the mattress.

Referring now to FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a bed assembly 10 isshown. The bed assembly 10 includes a mattress 12 and a bed sheetassembly 20. The mattress 12 may comprise a foam mattress comprising oneor more layers of foam, a coil spring mattress having a plurality ofcoil springs, or a combination of coil spring and foam defining themattress cushion.

The mattress 12 may include a top or upper surface 14, a bottom or lowersurface 15, a pair of long sides 16, 17 and a pair of short sides 18,19. The sides 16, 17, 18, 19 extend between the upper surface 14 and thebottom surface 15. The long sides 16, 17 may be also referred to aslateral sides while the short sides 18, 19 may be a head end and a feedend.

The mattress 12 may also comprise a fastener 30 extending about thesides 16, 17, 18, 19 or may be have a cover with a fastener 30. Thefastener 30 may comprise various types of closure devices including, butnot limited to, zipper 31, hook and loop, snaps, clips, or likeembodiments. In the instant embodiment the fastener 30 may be embodiedas a zipper 31 which extends along each of the four sides 16-19. Withthe fastener 30 extending about the entire mattress 12, a fitted sheet22 stays connected to the mattress 12, even in the case an adjustablebase is utilized. The fastener 30 may extend about the mattress 12 at aconstant elevation relative to a reference surface or the fastener 30may extend about the mattress 12 at various elevations. In the instantembodiment depicted, the elevation along the long sides 16, 17 is at afirst, lower elevation while along the short sides 18, 19 the fastener30 extends at a second, higher elevation. This arrangement of high andlow elevations may also be reversed with respect to the long and shortsides.

The fastener 30 may comprise a zipper 31 which is defined by teeth 33 ofthe fitted sheet 22 and teeth 34 of the mattress 12 and at least oneslider 37. While the term “teeth” is used throughout this description,the teeth are also synonymously known as, or interchangeably referred toas, “coils” by those skilled in the art. In the instant embodiment, theslider is depicted as a first slider 37 a and a second slider 37 b. Eachset of teeth or coils 33, 34 on the fitted sheet 22 and the mattress 12has a specific number of teeth within a tolerance, according to someembodiments. With the specific teeth design of the illustrative zipper31, the fastener 30 may be formed to receive a mattress, a mattresscover, or the bed sheet assembly 20. In some embodiments, a mattresscover 40 (FIG. 3 ) may additionally be connected to the fastener 30 andthe mattress cover 40 may include an additional fastener such that thebed sheet assembly 20 may be connected to the mattress cover 40. Thus,with the fastener 30 of matched characteristics, a mattress cover, or abed sheet assembly 20, a protector 50 (described further herein) or acombination of any of these may be utilized.

The bed sheet assembly 20 may comprise a fitted sheet 22 having afastener 32, which cooperates with fastener 30. The fitted sheet 22 mayextend over the upper peripheral edge of the upper surface 14 ofmattress 12 such that the fastener 32 may connect to the mattress 12 orto a mattress cover 40 having cooperating fastener.

In some embodiments the fitted sheet 22 may have a peripheral edge 23which may be at constant elevation about the mattress 12, or in someembodiments the peripheral edge 23 may vary in elevation. The selectionof the peripheral edge 23 type may be in concert with the design of themattress 12 or the mattress cover 40 and therefore placement of thecorresponding fastener 30 thereon. As previously described, the fastener30 may vary in elevation and in such embodiment, the peripheral edge 23of the fitted sheet 22 may likewise vary to follow such fastener 30.

The fitted sheet 22 may replace the prior art mattress cover and furtherdiffers from a mattress cover. Whereas prior art mattress covers may beformed of knit, high gram weight mattress ticking, the instant fittedsheet 22 may be form of woven cotton/polyester blend of low gram weightfabric. In some embodiments, the sheets 22 may be woven, for exampleplain weave, basket weave, satin weave, sateen weave, or twill weave. Insome embodiments, the sheet 22 may also be a knit sheet, fornon-limiting example, jersey stitch or rib stitch. Further, variousfiber types may be utilized, including but not limited to, all natural,all synthetic, semi-synthetic such as viscose rayon, combinations orothers. This list is non-exhaustive. The low gram weight fabric may befrom about 20 gsm to about 400 gsm.

Along one side of the mattress 12, and along one side or edge of thefitted sheet 22, a flat sheet 24 is connected to the fitted sheet 22. Inthe instant embodiment, the flat sheet 24 is connected to the fittedsheet 22 by a seam 25. The seam 25 may be one or more seams which may becontinuous or intermittent along corresponding edges of the sheets 22,24. The intermittent seams 25 along an edge or side may also allowimproved venting and air flow near the foot end 19 of the bed sheetassembly 20.

According to some embodiments, the flat sheet 24 may be connected solelyalong one edge of the fitted sheet 22 so that the remaining three edgesof the fiat sheet 24 are free relative to the fitted sheet 22. Further,the head end of the flat sheet 24 being loose allows for ease of entryand egress from the bed before and after sleep periods. Duringapplication of the fitted sheet 22, the flat sheet 24 is also applied,therefore to eliminate a step typical of bed making wherein the flatsheet applied above the fitted sheet must be applied separately. Withthe depicted embodiment, the head end of the flat sheet 24 is free tomove and therefore need only be straightened during the bed-makingprocess.

The flat sheet 24 may be of a rectangular shape so that side edges andhead/toe edges are at common elevation about the mattress 12. However,in some embodiments, the elevation of the edges of the flat sheet 24 mayvary, for example if it is desired to follow a varying elevation edge ofthe fitted sheet 22 and mattress 12 along the zipper 31.

The flat sheet 24 may be also be a lightweight woven, for examplecotton, polyester, or a combination, for non-limiting example. However,various materials may be utilized to form the flat sheet 24 and theinstant description should not be considered limiting. The flat sheet 24may be the same or may differ from the fitted sheet 22. In someembodiments, but without limitation, the flat sheet 24 may be woven, forexample plain weave, basket weave, satin weave, sateen weave, or twillweave. In some embodiments, the sheet 24 may also be a knit sheet, fornon-limiting example, jersey stitch or rib stitch. Further, variousfiber types may be utilized, including but not limited to, all natural,all synthetic, or semi-synthetic such as viscose rayon. The low gramweight fabric may be from about 20 gsm to about 400 gsm.

Referring now to FIG. 2 , an exploded view of the bed assembly 10 isprovided. The mattress 12 is shown at the bottom of the figure.

Disposed above the mattress 12 is the bed sheet assembly 20. The bedsheet assembly 20 is also shown in this view with an optional protector50 disposed beneath the fitted sheet 22. The protector 50 may beintegrated with the fitted sheet 22 or may be fastened to the sheet 22.The optional protector 50 may be formed of various materials including,but not limited to, lightweight polyurethane backed polyester. Theprotector 50 may be sewn, adhered, applied, or otherwise affixed to alower surface 15 of the fitted sheet 22. The protector 50 may also serveas a material to prevent spills, stains, or other such undesirabledamage to the mattress 12. In some embodiments, the protector 50 mayalso be incorporated by fasteners, for example by fastening to themattress 12. Alternatively, the protector 50 may be fastened to thefitted sheet 22 above or, the protector 50 may be fixed to the fittedsheet 22, for example sewn together or welded, wherein the fastening ofthe protector 50 also connects the fitted sheet 22.

Above the protector 50 is the fitted sheet 22 and the connected flatsheet 24. The fitted sheet 22 may include the peripheral edge 23 definedby four sides of the fitted sheet 22. in some embodiments, two of thefour sides are long sides and two of the sides are short sides. Disposedbetween the fitted sheet 22 and the mattress 12 is the fastener 30, fornon-limiting example a zipper. The fastener 30 may be formed of separatehalves either of which may be referred to as a fastener or fastenerhalves, each connected to one of the mattress 12 or the fitted sheet 22,and at least one slider 37. In some embodiments, and for ease ofdescription, the fastener halves may also be referred to as zipper tapeor zipper teeth. The zipper tape 33, 34 is understood to include thezipper teeth, or coils and each zipper tape 33, 34 is fastened to one ofthe fitted sheet 22 and the mattress 12, or a mattress cover (bottomportion or a top portion) so that the adjacent teeth or coils may bejoined by the at least one slider 37. In some embodiments, the slider 37may be two sliders which, in some embodiments are also two directionalsliders. The fasteners 30, 32 may be disposed along edges of the fittedsheet 22 or may be offset from the edges. With brief reference to FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the zipper teeth 33, 34 may be connected to thefitted sheet 22 and a mattress cover 40, if such mattress cover 40 ispositioned on the mattress 12 beneath the fitted sheet alternatively.

According to some embodiments, where the fastener 30 is a zipper 31, theteeth 33 of the half zipper of the fitted sheet 22 may be sized and havea count corresponding to the corresponding half zipper on the mattress12. This exact, or approximately, matching number of teeth may bereferred to as a “matched teeth” arrangement. Accordingly, the bed sheetassembly 20 may be formed so as to be interchangeable with any mattress,or mattress cover, of the corresponding size. Thus the matched teethnumber is dependent on the size of the mattress. Larger mattress sizeshave more teeth due to a larger perimeter, while smaller mattress sizeshave few teeth, due to the shorter perimeter dimension. Additionally, ifthe elevation of the fastener changes, this may change the length of thefastener.

The second or flat sheet 24 is connected to the fitted sheet 22. Theflat sheet 24 may be connected along an edge of the fitted sheet 22 ormay be connected along a side, for example spaced between the upper andlower edges of a short side. The instant embodiment provides that seam25 is disposed along a lower edge (feet end) of the fitted sheet 22 butmay alternatively be disposed at the upper edge of the fitted sheet 22,adjacent to the top surface 14, or alternatively may be connected atsome place between the upper and lower edges.

Referring now to FIG. 3 , an alternate embodiment is provided. Theembodiment provides that a mattress cover 40 may be utilized andprovides a lower zipper 42 which connects to a mating zipper of themattress 12. The mattress cover 40 may also comprise an upper matingzipper 44 which connects to the zipper 31 of the fitted sheet 22. Thus,the embodiment provides the additional use of the mattress cover 40,rather than replacement of such. The embodiment further depicts anembodiment wherein the zipper 31 of the fitted sheet 22 is at a constantelevation, rather than varying as with the previous embodiment. Theoptional protective layer 50 is also shown and may be disposed beneaththe fitted sheet 22.

Referring now to FIG. 4 , a schematic view of the relationship of thezipper 31 including teeth 33, 34 and the perimeter of the mattress 12 isprovided. FIG. 4 depicts a schematic construction of the zipper teeth orcoils 33 of the fitted sheet 22 that integrates with the existing zipperteeth or coils 34 of the mattress 12, in order to describe the zipperlength, teeth count and notching all of which are parameters that mustbe considered in ensure that zippers of fitted sheets will cooperatewith zippers of the mattress 12. Specifically, the perimeter path isschematically represented broken up into a plurality of segments 35 a-i.For ease of this description, the term teeth and teeth tape are usedinterchangeably however each teeth tape includes a plurality ofindividual teeth. The teeth 34 of the mattress 12 and the teeth 33 ofthe fitted sheet 22 are shown stretching across the mattress 12. Theextending segments 35 a-i are shown representing the perimeter length ofthe mattress 12, corresponding to the zipper 30 length. The instant zipin sheet assembly 20 is manufactured such that a first fitted sheetassembly may be replaced with a second fitted sheet assembly that isalso connectable to the mattress 12, without any hindrance due to teethproblems, fitting, or other mechanical issues which might precludeoperation together. The instant zip in sheet assembly 20 may bemanufactured by one provider and the mattress by a different provider,but the products still cooperate and function together. Similarly, theproducts may be bought at different times and still cooperate together.

In order to provide this functionality, the view of FIG. 4 provides aschematic layout of the mattress 12. A perimeter path of the fastenerlength, represented by the zipper teeth 33 and teeth 34, oralternatively the path of travel of the sliders 37 a, 37 b. Theperimeter path is broken up into a plurality of sections or segments 35.Each of the segments 35 a-35 i has a specific teeth count for a givensize of tooth. For non-limiting example, the teeth 33, 34 may be 3, 5,or 8 size teeth, each having a specific teeth count for any segment 35a-35 i. Further, the teeth 33, 34 may have a tolerance per segment,which indicates the allowable differential for a given segment 35. Forexample, in some embodiments any single segment 35 may have 1 tooth, andthe overall tolerance for the fitted sheet 22 teeth 33 relative to themattress 12 teeth 34, or vice-versa, may be +1-2 teeth.

As shown in Table 1, four example mattress sizes are set forth, eachwith 8 segments 35 a-35 i (labeled 1-8 and End in the table). Eachsegment 35 a-35 i, of the perimeter has an example number of teeth andeach segment 35 a-35 i is also shown with a tolerance for that segment.At the end of the table, a total number of teeth is provided as well asa total tolerance for the entire mattress 12. In this way, the number ofteeth for the mattress 12 may be matched with the number of teeth of thesheet assembly 20 to provide the matched arrangement.

TABLE 1 SEGMENT MATTRESS MATTRESS MATTRESS MATTRESS SEGMENT 1 2 3 4TOLERANCE 1 75 75 74 75 ±1 2 150 150 148 149 ±1 3 210 319 363 474 ±1 4210 319 363 474 ±1 5 150 150 148 149 ±1 6 480 480 514 517 ±1 7 480 480514 517 ±1 8 150 150 148 149 ±1 Zipper End 380 380 415 417 ±1 Total 22852503 2689 2921 ±2

With reference now to Table 2 additionally, the segments 35 a-35 i(labeled 1-8, and End) may also be associated with a linear measurement.Table 2 provides example measurements for each segment 35 a-35 i, foreach of various bed sizes. This linear measurement in combination witheach individual segment and a specific number of teeth may be used tomanufacture and calibrate a matched zipper arrangement. Thus a mattresszipper teeth 34 may he used with a zip in sheet zipper teeth 33 despitethe products being manufactured at different times and/or from differentmanufacturers.

TABLE 2 SEGMENT MEASUREMENTS MATTRESS MATTRESS MATTRESS MATTRESS SEGMENT1 2 3 4 TOLERANCE 1 10.2 10.2 10.2 10.2 ±0.75% 2 32 32 32 32 ±0.75% 350.3 69.4 78 97 ±0.75% 4 50.3 69.4 78 97 ±0.75% 5 32 32 32 32 ±0.75% 686 86 93 93 ±0.75% 7 86 86 93 93 ±0.75% 8 32 32 32 32 ±0.75% Zipper End75 75 82 82 ±0.75% Total 453.8 492 530.2 568.2 ±0.75%

As can be understood from this teaching, the total perimeter dimensionof any mattress 12 is dependent on the mattress size, twin, double,queen, king, etc. The segment 35 lengths may therefore vary withdifferent sizes of mattress. Further, the number of zipper teeth 31, 33may also vary with each segment 35 x. However Applicant has calibratedthe construction process in such a manner that the zip in sheet assembly20 may be installed and functional across various sizes of beds and evenwith various manufacturers of the parts involved in the assembly 10.

While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustratedherein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision avariety of other means and/or structures for performing the functionand/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantagesdescribed herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications isdeemed to be within the scope of the invent of embodiments describedherein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciatethat all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations describedherein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters,dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon thespecific application or applications for which the inventive teachingsis/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able toascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalentsto the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is,therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presentedby way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claimsand equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practicedotherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventiveembodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individualfeature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein.In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems,articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems,articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent,is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood tocontrol over dictionary definitions, definitions in documentsincorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the definedterms. The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in thespecification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to thecontrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” The phrase“and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, shouldbe understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined,i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases anddisjunctively present in other cases.

Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the samefashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Otherelements may optionally be present other than the elements specificallyidentified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to thoseelements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, areference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-endedlanguage such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only(optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, toB only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet anotherembodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should beunderstood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. Forexample, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall beinterpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, butalso including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and,optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated tothe contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when usedin the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactlyone element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or”as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusivealternatives (i.e. “one or the other hut not both”) when preceded byterms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or“exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims,shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “atleast one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should beunderstood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more ofthe elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including atleast one of each and every element specifically listed within the listof elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the listof elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally bepresent other than the elements specifically identified within the listof elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether relatedor unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as anon-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “atleast one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) canrefer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including morethan one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements otherthan B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally includingmore than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elementsother than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionallyincluding more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including morethan one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to thecontrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one stepor act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarilylimited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method arerecited.

In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitionalphrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,”“containing.” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are tobe understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limitedto, Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consistingessentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases,respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual ofPatent Examining Procedures.

The foregoing description of methods and embodiments has been presentedfor purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise steps and/or forms disclosed, andobviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of theabove teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention and allequivalents be defined by the claims appended hereto.

1. A bed sheet assembly, comprising: a first lower fitted sheet, havingfour sides, an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein two of saidfour sides are longer sides and two of said four sides are shortersides; said first lower fitted sheet having a plurality of zipper teeth,the plurality of zipper teeth having a teeth count to be capable ofbeing connected to a second plurality of zipper teeth extending about amattress; said first lower fitted sheet being of a woven, low gramweight fabric; at least one second sheet connected to the first lowerfitted sheet; said at least one second sheet having four sides and asecond upper surface and a second lower surface; said at least onesecond sheet connected along one of said four sides to a correspondingside of the first lower fitted sheet.
 2. The bed sheet assembly of claim1, further comprising a mattress protector.
 3. The bed sheet assembly ofclaim 2, wherein said mattress protector is disposed under said firstlower fitted sheet.
 4. The bed sheet assembly of claim 3 wherein saidplurality of zipper teeth of said first lower fitted sheet and saidsecond plurality of zipper teeth of said mattress extend about saidmattress at a constant elevation.
 5. The bed sheet assembly of claim 3,wherein said plurality of zipper teeth of said first lower fitted sheetand said second plurality of zipper teeth of said mattress extend aboutsaid mattress at a varying elevation.
 6. The bed sheet assembly of claim5, wherein said plurality of zipper teeth of said first lower fittedsheet is disposed at a lower elevation along said long sides of saidfirst lower fitted sheet.
 7. The bed sheet assembly of claim 6, whereinsaid plurality of zipper teeth of said first lower fitted sheet isdisposed at a higher elevation along said shorter sides of said firstlower fitted sheet.
 8. The bed sheet assembly of claim 5, wherein saidplurality of zipper teeth of said first lower fitted sheet is disposedat a higher elevation along said long sides of said first lower fittedsheet.
 9. The bed sheet assembly of claim 8, wherein said plurality ofzipper teeth of said first lower fitted sheet is disposed at a lowerelevation along said shorter sides of said first lower fitted sheet. 10.The bed sheet assembly of claim 2, wherein said mattress protector isformed of lightweight polyurethane backed polyester.
 11. The bed sheetassembly of claim 1, wherein at least one seam connects the first lowerfitted sheet and the at least one second sheet.
 12. The bed sheetassembly of claim 1, wherein multiple seams join the first lower fittedsheet and the at least one second sheet, with at least one gap betweensaid multiple seams.
 13. The bed sheet assembly of claim 11, whereinsaid at least one seam is at a foot end of the bed sheet assembly. 14.The bed sheet assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of zipperteeth of said first lower fitted sheet is divided into a plurality ofsegments.
 15. The bed sheet assembly of claim 14, wherein said pluralityof segments have a corresponding number of said plurality of zipperteeth and linear distance.
 16. The bed sheet assembly of claim 15,wherein said mattress further comprises a corresponding plurality ofsegments, number of said second plurality of zipper teeth and lineardistance.
 17. The bed sheet assembly of claim 1, wherein said secondplurality of teeth is disposed on either the mattress or a mattresscover.